Sweeping its last two opponents, WKU Volleyball is back on track and ready to host this weekend’s Holiday Inn University Plaza Hotel Invitational Friday and Saturday from Diddle Arena. The Lady Toppers have a double-feature set for Friday followed by a Saturday evening match to close weekend action on The Hill. WKU is welcoming East Tennessee State, Pittsburgh and Saint Louis to town for six total matches that will span two days.
WEEKEND INFORMATION
Friday – WKU vs. ETSU – 11 a.m. CT | Free Admission | Stats | Stream ($)
Friday – Saint Louis vs. Pitt – 1 p.m. CT | Free Admission | Stats | Stream ($)
Friday – WKU vs. Pitt – 7 p.m. CT | Stats | Stream ($)
Saturday – Saint Louis vs. ETSU – 11 a.m. CT | Free Admission | Stats
Saturday – ETSU vs. Pitt – 3 p.m. CT | Free Admission | Stats
Saturday – WKU vs. Saint Louis – 5 p.m. CT | Stats | Stream
First on the slate for the weekend is the East Tennessee State squad that currently sits at 2-4 on the year after posting a 22-8 record a season ago. The Bucs picked up their first two wins of the year this past weekend at the Appalachian State Invitational. WKU Volleyball leads the all-time series 4-2 and currently rides a two-match winning streak against the SoCon opponent with a sweep of the Bucs most recently in the 2008.
Pittsburgh and WKU will square off in Friday night’s primetime event from Diddle Arena. The Panthers own a deceiving 2-3 record entering weekend play as they prep for ACC play. Pittsburgh advanced to the second round of last year’s NCAA Tournament, picking up the program’s first NCAA Tournament win in a 3-1 showing over No. 23 Dayton. WKU and Pitt have met just once in program history, a five-set thriller last season in Pittsburgh, Pa. Alyssa Cavanaugh registered her 1,000th career kill in the match.
WKU will wrap up weekend play with a Saturday evening contest with Saint Louis. The Lady Toppers and Billikens have met six times heading into the weekend, as the series sits even at 3-3. WKU has won the three most recent meetings in 2003, ’10 and ’16, making head coach Travis Hudson 3-0 against the former C-USA program. Saint Louis enters the weekend with a 0-6 record in search of its first victory on the year after an 18-14 campaign last season.
Collectively, WKU’s trio of weekend opponents lost just five starters from last season’s squads. ETSU returns all but two starters, Pittsburgh welcomed back five starters plus the libero and Saint Louis retained four starters and the libero.
Admission to all neutral matches is free as well as to WKU’s mid-day match with ETSU on Friday. Parking will be available for spectators in Parking Structure 2, which sits south of Diddle Arena and just north of the football stadium.
All three of WKU’s home matches on the weekend will be streamed on CUSA.tv as will the neutral matchup between Saint Louis and Pittsburgh.
This weekend will mark the last time the Lady Toppers will don the Red and White inside Diddle Arena for nearly three weeks with the next home match falling on Sept. 29.
How to Follow the Lady Toppers: For complete information on WKU Volleyball, follow the team on Twitter at @WKUVolleyball and head coach Travis Hudson at @TravisHudsonWKU.
Press Release courtesy of WKU Athletics.
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